Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's largest city and main port, a hot Swahili coastal metropolis of markets, museums, harbour life and island beaches, and the gateway to Zanzibar and Tanzania's safari circuit.
Dar es Salaam has a hot, humid tropical climate with two rainy seasons: long rains (March-May) and short rains (November-December); June-October is the driest and coolest.
Best time to visit
Best: Year-round
Avoid: None
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
January
32 C/90 F
Hot, humid; occasional storms.
February
32 C/90 F
Hottest and humid.
March
31 C/88 F
Start of the long rains.
April
30 C/86 F
Peak long rains.
May
29 C/84 F
Rains ease.
June
28 C/82 F
Dry and cooler.
July
27 C/81 F
Coolest, dry.
August
27 C/81 F
Dry; kusi winds.
September
28 C/82 F
Dry and sunny.
October
29 C/84 F
Warm, short rains start.
November
30 C/86 F
Short rains.
December
31 C/88 F
Hot, humid with showers.
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Dry_cool
Months: Jun-Oct
Dry, 27-29 C.
Short_rains
Months: Nov-Dec
Humid with showers.
Hot
Months: Jan-Feb
Hot and humid, 32 C.
Long_rains
Months: Mar-May
Heavy rain and flooding.
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- Overview
- Peak travel is July-August and December-January; the city is less touristy than Zanzibar.
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.